US 11,914,351 B2
Integration of a plurality of installation modules each having at least one process-technical unit to form a modularly constructed overall installation
Jörg Jeschin, Einbeck (DE); and Claus Vothknecht, Schlangen (DE)
Assigned to Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, Blomberg (DE)
Appl. No. 17/311,133
Filed by Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, Blomberg (DE)
PCT Filed Dec. 5, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/083779
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 4, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/115186, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 11, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2018/5858 (BE), filed on Dec. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0382461 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. G05B 19/418 (2006.01)
CPC G05B 19/4188 (2013.01) [G05B 2219/31001 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for integrating a plurality of installation modules each having
at least one process-technical unit, hardware for carrying out a function of a technical process, and control technology, to form a modularly constructed overall installation, wherein installation modules are arranged three-dimensionally and, according to a description of an overall installation, are connected mechanically and electrically to one another such that, between the installation modules, at least one coupling for data exchange is formed via one or more communication protocols,
and wherein a configuration of the overall installation is assembled and stored on a central server unit having a data link to the installation modules in terms of data technology, each installation module being allocated at least one access path to the stored configuration before its launch, and the installation modules being started,
wherein, after the installation modules have been started, each installation module carries out the steps of:
forming a connection to the saved configuration via the access path,
autonomously reading configuration data respectively intended for the installation module to be read via the access path,
forming, in accordance with the configuration data read, the necessary communication links to at least one further installation module, wherein links are formed between individual data objects and also service interfaces are requested, and the installation modules provide the relevant function thereof to the outside via data points and services.